Your article on the governor’s race includes a telling quote from Republican state Sen. Ted Harvey: “[Tom Tancredo] will govern as a Republican. … Most importantly, he will sign a redistricting bill that … [will] make sure we’re in control in Colorado for the next decade.”

This certainly clarifies Republican intentions. They don’t want free citizens to make a fair choice between competing candidates. They want a system-enforced one-party state.

I’m sure the first defense of his statement would be “Democrats will do the same if they win.” Perhaps someone can produce a quote from any Democratic candidate, incumbent or official similar in arrogance to the one above.

Dale Lockwood, Thornton

This letter was published in the Oct. 31 edition. For information on how to send a letter to the editor, click here.

So, John Hickenlooper thinks we Coloradans are “backwards” in our thinking, along with others who enjoy life in the Interior West. He and all other liberal elitists have always expressed disdain for anyone who doesn’t buy into their more enlightened views. Keep in mind, John, that we managed to get along fine without you before, and we will again when you fade to black. And it can’t be too soon! I, for one, can’t support a governor who feels disdain for his constituents. If we are too backwards for you, why don’t you just pack up your little scooter, remember to wear a helmet, and head off to one of the coasts where all the “intelligent, forward-thinking” people live, and leave us alone? Please!

Becky Hansen, Centennial

This letter was published in the Oct. 31 edition. For information on how to send a letter to the editor, click here.

I think it is downright disgusting what the Republican Party in Colorado has done to its own gubernatorial candidate, Dan Maes. The people selected Maes in a fair process that happens to be the American way. But party leaders think they know better, so they abandoned him and now risk becoming a minor party.

Republican leaders have tried every trick in the book to get rid of Maes and appoint their own candidate, Tom Tancredo — the ultimate switcheroo. But Tancredo is a one-issue guy, and it is not jobs. What’s he going to do, hire the Minutemen to patrol Colorado’s borders? His narrow agenda can only be supported by a minority party, be it American Constitution or Republican.

The only way to prevent the Republican Party from becoming minor is to vote for Maes.

Greg Scott, Evergreen

This letter was published in the Oct. 31 edition. For information on how to send a letter to the editor, click here.

The foremost goal of Tom Tancredo is to stop illegal immigration. He has a well-documented history in this regard. If he is elected governor on Nov. 2, I fear that Colorado’s legal and illegal Hispanics might well be facing the racist treatment to which Latinos in Arizona are currently subjected. Do we want a governor who is obstinately intolerant? I feel that we should reject this man at the polls.

Robert Loewe, Salida

This letter was published in the Oct. 31 edition. For information on how to send a letter to the editor, click here.

I changed my mind on the governor’s race just this past weekend.

I’m now going to vote for Tom Tancredo because he’s 1) polling even with the big-government Democrat; and 2) he supports the legalization of marijuana, an indication that he understands what limited government is all about. The government that is powerful enough to meddle in your bedroom is powerful enough to steal your wallet, and vice-versa.

David Aitken, Denver

This letter was published in the Oct. 31 edition. For information on how to send a letter to the editor, click here.

You’re right, I will defend the GOP on this score. It is standard politicking. Both parties want to shape the political landscape as much to their advantage as possible. It is completely disingenuous of you to suggest that the Democrats wouldn’t do the same–of course they would! They just aren’t honest enough to admit it. If they really didn’t care, why did the Democrats raise such a stink the last time we had redistricting? Heck, they took it too court in from of a Democrat-appointed judge who, of course, redistricted Colorado to the liking of Democrats.

However, I’ll give the Democrats a chance on this one. Maybe the current crop is different than the ones in the early 2000s. If Hickenlooper et al. redistrict such that El Paso County is not divided up, Denver County is split into the current 1st, 4th, and 7th districts, and Weld County isn’t so ridiculously gerrymandered, than it will show that the Democrats really don’t care about how the political landscape is divided and that they don’t want single-party control. But we already know that this will never happen. The Democrats will make sure that things are redistricted such that they are the ones in control, and you, Mr. Lockwood, will have to explain how this is not the Democrats caring for their own future and their future alone.

Anonymous

C’mon physics student. You want to keep El Paso whole and subdivide Denver? Yeah, you’re really non-partisan, all right, LMAO. You know as well as I do that subdividing Denver would drown us in a sea of Republicans. Do the math. Every ten years the suburbs grow more than Denver does, so every census, the 1st District gets more Republican suburban districts.You came close to saying it yourself: Re-districting is about power. You want power for your side, Democrats want power for their side. If that weren’t the case, then dividing Colorado into 7 equal sized districts could be done with a demographer and some mapping software.But in your mind it’s wrong for Dems to do it, and OK for Reps to do it. Fair enough. In that case, hope your party wins both the state house and the state senate. Maybe they can re-create the “midnight gerrymander” again.

Anonymous

You completely missed my point, peterpi. All I was saying is that it is silly to believe that only the GOP is interested in redistricting–of course the Democrats are, and rightfully so. My redistricting “plan” ridiculously favors the GOP. I only laid this out so as the make the point that if the Democrats really could care less about redistricting, they should make it as nice for the GOP as possible to prove their (the Democrats’) good intentions. However, I completely understand that if the Democrats win the governor’s race and maintain control of the state legislature, it is their prerogative to redistrict in their favor. Doing so is prudent politics. Am I more clear now, peterpi?

Anonymous

LOL, you are indeed more clear, physics student. My apologies.

Anonymous

No worries. Probably didn’t hurt for you to have me clarify.

JohnCOS

This is why hopefully we will vote in separation of power, like we are supposed to have.

Anonymous

To Dale Lockwood:

You’re right, I will defend the GOP on this score. It is standard politicking. Both parties want to shape the political landscape as much to their advantage as possible. It is completely disingenuous of you to suggest that the Democrats wouldn’t do the same–of course they would! They just aren’t honest enough to admit it. If they really didn’t care, why did the Democrats raise such a stink the last time we had redistricting? Heck, they took it too court in from of a Democrat-appointed judge who, of course, redistricted Colorado to the liking of Democrats.

However, I’ll give the Democrats a chance on this one. Maybe the current crop is different than the ones in the early 2000s. If Hickenlooper et al. redistrict such that El Paso County is not divided up, Denver County is split into the current 1st, 4th, and 7th districts, and Weld County isn’t so ridiculously gerrymandered, than it will show that the Democrats really don’t care about how the political landscape is divided and that they don’t want single-party control. But we already know that this will never happen. The Democrats will make sure that things are redistricted such that they are the ones in control, and you, Mr. Lockwood, will have to explain how this is not the Democrats caring for their own future and their future alone.

Anonymous

To Dale Lockwood:

You’re right, I will defend the GOP on this score. It is standard politicking. Both parties want to shape the political landscape as much to their advantage as possible. It is completely disingenuous of you to suggest that the Democrats wouldn’t do the same–of course they would! They just aren’t honest enough to admit it. If they really didn’t care, why did the Democrats raise such a stink the last time we had redistricting? Heck, they took it too court in from of a Democrat-appointed judge who, of course, redistricted Colorado to the liking of Democrats.

However, I’ll give the Democrats a chance on this one. Maybe the current crop is different than the ones in the early 2000s. If Hickenlooper et al. redistrict such that El Paso County is not divided up, Denver County is split into the current 1st, 4th, and 7th districts, and Weld County isn’t so ridiculously gerrymandered, than it will show that the Democrats really don’t care about how the political landscape is divided and that they don’t want single-party control. But we already know that this will never happen. The Democrats will make sure that things are redistricted such that they are the ones in control, and you, Mr. Lockwood, will have to explain how this is not the Democrats caring for their own future and their future alone.

Anonymous

C’mon physics student. You want to keep El Paso whole and subdivide Denver? Yeah, you’re really non-partisan, all right, LMAO. You know as well as I do that subdividing Denver would drown us in a sea of Republicans. Do the math. Every ten years the suburbs grow more than Denver does, so every census, the 1st District gets more Republican suburban districts.You came close to saying it yourself: Re-districting is about power. You want power for your side, Democrats want power for their side. If that weren’t the case, then dividing Colorado into 7 equal sized districts could be done with a demographer and some mapping software.But in your mind it’s wrong for Dems to do it, and OK for Reps to do it. Fair enough. In that case, hope your party wins both the state house and the state senate. Maybe they can re-create the “midnight gerrymander” again.

Anonymous

You completely missed my point, peterpi. All I was saying is that it is silly to believe that only the GOP is interested in redistricting–of course the Democrats are, and rightfully so. My redistricting “plan” ridiculously favors the GOP. I only laid this out so as the make the point that if the Democrats really could care less about redistricting, they should make it as nice for the GOP as possible to prove their (the Democrats’) good intentions. However, I completely understand that if the Democrats win the governor’s race and maintain control of the state legislature, it is their prerogative to redistrict in their favor. Doing so is prudent politics. Am I more clear now, peterpi?

Anonymous

LOL, you are indeed more clear, physics student. My apologies.

Anonymous

No worries. Probably didn’t hurt for you to have me clarify.

JohnCOS

This is why hopefully we will vote in separation of power, like we are supposed to have.

Goodspkr

Here’s bad news for the Democrats in Colorado

GOP leads Dems in turnout among early voters

On the last day of early voting, Republicans in Colorado solidified their preliminary turnout advantage over Democrats.

In numbers released by the secretary of state’s office Friday afternoon, REPUBLICANS HAD CAST NEARLY 53,000 MORE BALLOTS THAN DEMOCRATS. Republicans’ turnout rate also continued pulling slightly ahead of Democrats’. In Friday’s figures, about 35 percent of registered Republicans had cast a ballot, compared with about 30 percent of registered Democrats.

This is why I see a big victory for the Republicans in Colorado. Buck wins, Tancredo wins, and three formerly Democrat seats (Salazar, Markey, and Perlmutter) go Republican.

On the last day of early voting, Republicans in Colorado solidified their preliminary turnout advantage over Democrats.

In numbers released by the secretary of state’s office Friday afternoon, REPUBLICANS HAD CAST NEARLY 53,000 MORE BALLOTS THAN DEMOCRATS. Republicans’ turnout rate also continued pulling slightly ahead of Democrats’. In Friday’s figures, about 35 percent of registered Republicans had cast a ballot, compared with about 30 percent of registered Democrats.

This is why I see a big victory for the Republicans in Colorado. Buck wins, Tancredo wins, and three formerly Democrat seats (Salazar, Markey, and Perlmutter) go Republican.

Dale worries about a one-party state. Duh….ain’t that we have now? Guess he isn’t concerned if the Dems are in power.

Edd

Dale worries about a one-party state. Duh….ain’t that we have now? Guess he isn’t concerned if the Dems are in power.

anderson

One-party state? Maybe you don’t know anything about your government or how it operates or maybe, like a child, you’re just complaining because you don’t have everything your way, and anytime you want it. You people (speaking of talk radio audiences) *really* should strive for some level of maturity rather than constantly trying to relive the attitudes and worldview of your teen years.

Goodspkr

What in the world are you talking about A? You aren’t making any sense.

Anonymous

Getting back to the subject of the governorship, these are difficult times and there is a lot of discontent and hard feelings. If the next governor hopes to solve the state’s problems and get people working together, he will have to be an expert diplomat and have infinite patience. Tancredo is a bomb thrower!

anderson

I was thinking about the same thing yesterday. To be an effective executive, and especially as the governor of a State, you have know how to work with other people, including those who may not see things your way, to get things accomplished–that is, if you want to accomplish anything more than, say, smoking cigars in your office. I see little evidence of “working with other people” on Tancredo’s resume. Hickenlooper, on the other hand, has been in the executive role for years

Goodspkr

Nah, we need someone who can come in and address the problems we have in the state. Do you really think Hick will take on the government employee unions? Do you think he will be able to make the cuts we need to make in state government? I don’t.

Tancredo is a bomb thrower at a time you need a bomb thrower.

Only A Matter of Time

Goodspkr, I agree with you, only I’m going to state it much more bluntly…November 2, 2010 is a sad, sad, sad, sad day for Colorado…Now that Hickenlooper has been elected the next governor of Colorado, we are in for one hell of a time. This guy is nothing but a liar, illegal alien lover, Van Jones lover and endorser, and a total and complete far left, ultra liberal democrat (defined as a communist) who will lead us as a state to total Obama ruin!!! Colorado is now a dedicated, far left ultra liberal communistic illegal alien sanctuary state. Republican Dan Maes was an elitist, New World Order plant from LIBERAL, KANSAS (GET IT…LIBERAL, KANSAS, ULTRA FAR LEFT “DEMOCRAT” AND “REPUBLICAN” COMMUNIST) so that votes would be drawn from Tancredo to Hickenlooper!!! Colorado Citizens, do you now understand that their is absolutely no difference between a Demomcrat and a Republican!!!!!! Shame on all of you for allowing yourselves to be so “DUMBED DOWN” by the liberal, far ultra left “DEMOCRATIC” (READ AS COMMUNIST) MEDIA!!! All of the major liberal media (defined as newspapers, major network television/radio, and talking head radio liberal and conservative talk shows) have absolutely contributed to destroying the sovereignty, freedom, and rights of the average American Citizen. Do you now understand that the war on terror isn’t against the Muslim terrorists, alQaeida, Taliban, or illegal aliens into this state…the government has and now completely considers freedom loving, Constitution loving citizens the actual terrorists!!! See you all at either the guillotines, gas chambers, national federal concentration camps, or in front of a firing squad…if you have any guts, convictions, and American Constitutional beliefs!!! It’s only a matter of time now before true, natural born, legal citizens are rounded up for the slaughter just like in Nazi Germany during World War II!!! Have a good day…while they last…………I DARE THE ULTRA FAR LEFT LIBERAL COMMUNISTIC DENVER POST TO PRINT THIS OPINION! I KNOW IT WILL BE HORRIFICLY CENSORED AND BLACKLISTED AS A THREAT, RATHER THAN AS A LAST, FINAL WAKEUP CALL!!! GOOD DAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Goodspkr

I imagine you think this is ironic. Actually the only ironic part of it is that you think it is.

Anonymous

Getting back to the subject of the governorship, these are difficult times and there is a lot of discontent and hard feelings. If the next governor hopes to solve the state’s problems and get people working together, he will have to be an expert diplomat and have infinite patience. Tancredo is a bomb thrower!

anderson

I was thinking about the same thing yesterday. To be an effective executive, and especially as the governor of a State, you have know how to work with other people, including those who may not see things your way, to get things accomplished–that is, if you want to accomplish anything more than, say, smoking cigars in your office. I see little evidence of “working with other people” on Tancredo’s resume. Hickenlooper, on the other hand, has been in the executive role for years

Goodspkr

Nah, we need someone who can come in and address the problems we have in the state. Do you really think Hick will take on the government employee unions? Do you think he will be able to make the cuts we need to make in state government? I don’t.

Tancredo is a bomb thrower at a time you need a bomb thrower.

Only A Matter of Time

Goodspkr, I agree with you, only I’m going to state it much more bluntly…November 2, 2010 is a sad, sad, sad, sad day for Colorado…Now that Hickenlooper has been elected the next governor of Colorado, we are in for one hell of a time. This guy is nothing but a liar, illegal alien lover, Van Jones lover and endorser, and a total and complete far left, ultra liberal democrat (defined as a communist) who will lead us as a state to total Obama ruin!!! Colorado is now a dedicated, far left ultra liberal communistic illegal alien sanctuary state. Republican Dan Maes was an elitist, New World Order plant from LIBERAL, KANSAS (GET IT…LIBERAL, KANSAS, ULTRA FAR LEFT “DEMOCRAT” AND “REPUBLICAN” COMMUNIST) so that votes would be drawn from Tancredo to Hickenlooper!!! Colorado Citizens, do you now understand that their is absolutely no difference between a Demomcrat and a Republican!!!!!! Shame on all of you for allowing yourselves to be so “DUMBED DOWN” by the liberal, far ultra left “DEMOCRATIC” (READ AS COMMUNIST) MEDIA!!! All of the major liberal media (defined as newspapers, major network television/radio, and talking head radio liberal and conservative talk shows) have absolutely contributed to destroying the sovereignty, freedom, and rights of the average American Citizen. Do you now understand that the war on terror isn’t against the Muslim terrorists, alQaeida, Taliban, or illegal aliens into this state…the government has and now completely considers freedom loving, Constitution loving citizens the actual terrorists!!! See you all at either the guillotines, gas chambers, national federal concentration camps, or in front of a firing squad…if you have any guts, convictions, and American Constitutional beliefs!!! It’s only a matter of time now before true, natural born, legal citizens are rounded up for the slaughter just like in Nazi Germany during World War II!!! Have a good day…while they last…………I DARE THE ULTRA FAR LEFT LIBERAL COMMUNISTIC DENVER POST TO PRINT THIS OPINION! I KNOW IT WILL BE HORRIFICLY CENSORED AND BLACKLISTED AS A THREAT, RATHER THAN AS A LAST, FINAL WAKEUP CALL!!! GOOD DAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Goodspkr

I imagine you think this is ironic. Actually the only ironic part of it is that you think it is.

anderson

Is Mr. Aitken telling us that he smokes marijuana in his bedroom, and expects a meddlesome government will burst through his door at some point, and maybe that Tom Tandredo will save him from all this?

anderson

Is Mr. Aitken telling us that he smokes marijuana in his bedroom, and expects a meddlesome government will burst through his door at some point, and maybe that Tom Tandredo will save him from all this?

anderson

One-party state? Maybe you don’t know anything about your government or how it operates or maybe, like a child, you’re just complaining because you don’t have everything your way, and anytime you want it. You people (speaking of talk radio audiences) *really* should strive for some level of maturity rather than constantly trying to relive the attitudes and worldview of your teen years.

Goodspkr

What in the world are you talking about A? You aren’t making any sense.

Sven the Swede

Tancredo is a hot head, Do you rally think you people need someone as backwards as he is? Unfortunately, Hickenlooper is right: the rural folks are backwards in their thinking, just like the republinuts

Goodspkr

Republinuts. Very mature Swede.

Sven the Swede

Tancredo is a hot head, Do you rally think you people need someone as backwards as he is? Unfortunately, Hickenlooper is right: the rural folks are backwards in their thinking, just like the republinuts

Goodspkr

Republinuts. Very mature Swede.

Taoman

Electing Tancredo would be a complete disgrace to this state. His history does not need to be reiterated; he is a truly unworthy individual, and the cowardly libel he has used toward Mayor Hickenlooper is beyond the pale. Unfortunately, this election is not about thinking or looking for any decent values in candidates; if it were, Tancredo, Miller, O’Donnell and others would be polling in the single digits. This election is about people who preach self-righteousness out one side of their mouths, and support for the candidates of the lowest quality out the other, and try to hold themselves up as members of an American value revolution. Their so-called values are pretty nauseating for the most part…

Taoman

Electing Tancredo would be a complete disgrace to this state. His history does not need to be reiterated; he is a truly unworthy individual, and the cowardly libel he has used toward Mayor Hickenlooper is beyond the pale. Unfortunately, this election is not about thinking or looking for any decent values in candidates; if it were, Tancredo, Miller, O’Donnell and others would be polling in the single digits. This election is about people who preach self-righteousness out one side of their mouths, and support for the candidates of the lowest quality out the other, and try to hold themselves up as members of an American value revolution. Their so-called values are pretty nauseating for the most part…

Guidelines: The Post welcomes letters up to 150 words on topics of general interest. Letters must include full name, home address, day and evening phone numbers, and may be edited for length, grammar and accuracy.

To reach the Denver Post editorial page by phone: 303-954-1331

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